Automobile bed



Feb. 5 1924.

F. x. VAN AUSDAL AUTOMOBILE BED Filed Oct. 23,

in van 2902"; I'rancz'a .X. 7/2121 Auadal,

A ttorlzey.

Patented Feb. 5, i924.

S T A T S FRANCIS K. VAN AUS'DAL, OE LASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE BED.

Application filed October 28, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS K. VAN AUsnAL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomobileBeds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile beds; and the objectsof my improvement are, first, to produce a device ,of this nature thatis collapsible and adapted for use either as a bed, a cot, or as a couchto sit upon; second, to provide means whereby said device may be made toco-act with other parts of the vehicle to become a convenient luggagecarrier; and, third to afford ready means, cooperating with saidvehicle, for enclosing said device.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and while I showherewith, and will describe a preferred form of construction, I desireto be understood that I do not limit myself to such preferred form, butthat various changes and adaptations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as hereinafter claimed.

My objects are attained by means of the construction disclosed in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of anautomobile with my invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same; and Figure 3 is anelevation of the device and section through the running board of theautomobile taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame of my bed is preferably made of angle steel in two rectangularthree sided parts, as 4 and 5, pivotally connected to each other at 6.Part 5 is made slightly smaller than part 4 and may be constructed ofsmaller section steel so that it may be folded eFntirely within thelatter, as shown in Part 4 of the frame is hinged to the running boardof an automobile, as at 7, and in such a manner that it may be extendedhorizontallv therefrom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or placed vertically,as in Figure 3.

There are two pairs of folding legs or standards for supporting the bedwhen extended. The inner pair 8 of these legs is Serial No. 596,183.

pivoted to the frame at 6, making use of the same pins that connect thetwo parts of the frame. The outer two legs 9 are pivoted at 10 to theouter corners of the frame.

Legs 8 are spaced by the pipe strut 11, close to their upper ends. Thisis to prevent the frame from collapsing inwardly when being used for itsintended purpose. A convenient form of construction in this W respect isdepicted in the drawing, and consists of flattening the ends of thepipe, bending these ends around the outside of the legs, and rivetingthem to the latter at 12. In this manner the strut is prevented fromingarfering with the compact folding of the be The two parts of theframe, where they are pivotally connected, are spaced by washers so asto allow legs 9 to be folded alongside the end members of part 5, andmake it possible for them to be stowed within the end members of part 4when the bed is folded up.

The bottom extremity of each leg is preferably made forked as shown.This enables them to be supported, without danger of shifting, uponsmall pieces of boards 13, as indicated; or they may even be supportedby round sticks.

In this manner it is perfectly feasible to make use of the invention onsand, or soft ground, since it is nearly always possible to find somepieces of wood or similar material that will serve as footings for thelegs.

Pivotally connected to the outer corners of the bed at 10, on the insideof part 5, is a telescoping tent frame comprising the swinging supportmembers 14, the vertically adjustable members 15, the horizontal spanner16 and the horizontally adjustable extension rod 17. This whole tentframe may be made in such a manner as to allow collapsing and foldingentirely within part 5; or it may be made as shown where rod 17 isremoved before folding.

Rod 17 has an eye 18 at its outer end, and another eye 19 is provided atthe further extremity of the tent frame. These allow for properlyspacing the tent ropes 20, which are stretched between the automobileand tent pins 21 driven in the ground. A canvas cover (not shown) isstretched over the ropes, and the telescoping tent frame, to formsatisfactory enclosed sleeping quarte rs.

The spring mattress may be of any suit-- able and approved construction.As illustrated it comprises steel ribbons 22 attached to one end of theframe by links 23, and at the other end by the helical tension spring24. Webbing strips 25 are riveted to the side members of the frame andto each of the ribbons, and serve to keep the latter properly spaced.

Adjustment of the several cooperating parts of tie invention is made bymeans of the set screws 26 and cinch blocks 27 in a manner that will beobvious. Hooks 28 serve to retain the device in proper position whenfolded for transportation, or for use as a luggage carrier.

I desire to call especial attention to the three-fold utility of myinvention, viz, as a tent enclosed bed; as a couch or cot; and as aconvenient carrier of bulky luggage such as is usually necessary ontours or camping trips.

I claim:

1. A mattress attachment for an automobile consisting of an inner framesection having means on its inner side for hinging the same to therunning board of the automobile, an outer frame section with pivotedconnections attaching its ends to the ends of the inner frame section,inner legs pivotally attached respectively at the said pivotalconnections on the outer side of the ends of the inner frame section,and constructed to fold into line with the ends of the inner framesection, distance washers between the ends of the two frame sections atthe said pivoted connections, outer legs pivotally attached respectivelyat the outer sides of the ends of the said outer frame section, saidouter frame section operating to fold into juxtaposition over the innerframe section with the outer legsin the space between the ends of theframe sections and in line with the said Washers, and means attached tothe said pivotal connections having means for detachably connecting tothe side of the automobile to hold the folded frame sections in asubstantially vertical position.

2. A mattress attachment for an automobile consisting of a frame withhinges on one side for attaching the same to the running board of theautomobile, said frame consisting of two frame sections with a pair ofaligning pivot connections having their axes extending parallel with thesaid side carrying the hinges, a foldable leg connected to the frame ateach of said pivot connections, a foldable leg connected to the outerside of the frame at each end, the outer frame sear tion operating tofold into juxtaposition with the inner frame section, means carried bythe frame adjacent the said pivot connection for supporting thejuxtaposed frame sections in a substantially vertical position, a tentframe having extensible arms pivotally connected to the outer ends ofthe outer frame section and having a substantially horizontal spannerbar, and constructed to fold down upon the outer frame section, saidtent frame having eyes at its ends and guy ropes passing through saideyes having means for attaching their lower ends to ground pegs, andadapted to be attached at their upper ends to the automobile.

FRANCIS X. VAN AUS DAL,

